As our story begins, examine your life, those moments when challenges were turned into opportunities or possibly when opportunities were left undiscovered. Here we are in 2024; everyone in our world faces the same challenge of survival while prospering into a new year.
What we have experienced this past year and years prior has left us silent and afraid, dreams destroyed, lives lost, and people facing unfathomable rigors. From the pandemic to the war against Israel, our hearts weep, leaving us uncertain, yet we must prevail and stay strong, for that is how we survive. Sometimes, the bridge will seem too narrow – leaving us feeling lost, confused, and scared, yet even in the toughest of times, in our weakest moments, as Rebbe Nachman insists, we must ensure our courage to find hope. Kol Ha’olam Kulo Gesher Tsar me’od Veha’ikar Lo’ Lifached: The whole world is a narrow bridge. The essence is not to be afraid to cross it.
At the end of each day, despite any afflictions we face as a Jewish community, hope comes as our reward for creating a future more significant than ours. This challenge gives us time to reflect on our life – its meaning, brevity, legacy, unfinished business, and what is truly substantial. This is part of the gift that even the most significant challenges offer us…giving us a panoramic window to plan our next steps, to move forward, and to remind us of our strength. In this very time, it is now that what we do matters—our choices and how we respond to life. Despite limitations imposed by circumstances, hope remains our dream of a brighter future. Stay optimistic about your goals and wishes as we embrace the new year. No matter who you are or where you are today, we are all on this journey together. Today, and every day moving forward, this is our time as a community, as a temple family, to help restore hope and faith for ourselves and each other. We must all believe in the goal to thrive and grow and to rise on our feet even more potent than before. What have we learned from this past year? Where will we let it take us?
Hope is easily lost if we remain too vulnerable. Together, we must stay strong. Despite any losses we have incurred since this pandemic or the war, we still have our minds, our creativity, and the dreams we thought we lost. Keep holding onto those dreams and the power of our minds that enables us to see and take us beyond our perceived limitations. See this as a choice to change the agenda handed to us as an opportunity to restart your journey back up that mountain to regain hope and confidence. Don’t let the injustice of this war or any past challenges mold you; instead, champion your greatness and growth to what lies ahead. We can alter our reality for the better through the respect and justice of humanity. If we work together and support each other, so much is possible. Together, we can regain much of what has been stolen from us. We can stand more assertive, feel more confident and proud, and hopefully, a bit more balanced. Like any past challenge you have faced, we can break the chains of silence and isolation that the war or any tragedy that has bound us. When we rise, inspiration and hope are our birthright.
In 1982, I was honored with the ADL Torch of Liberty Award for my work and efforts to help unite my community and to be a leader to all people by guiding with kindness, quality, and compassion. The Torch Liberty Award is derived from the Statue of Liberty, with her glowing torch that welcomes so many people to the shores of this land of Liberty and opportunity. The Liberty Bell contains the word Liberty, symbolizing freedom and justice for all in this land. My goal at the time of receiving that award, as it is today, was to fight against hatred and racism within my community and beyond and to bring people of all races and backgrounds together with no boundaries other than care and equality towards all. This goal, which I still advocate today, can only be achieved with your help and support. Your assistance allows us to remain a strong family against challenges that test our limits.
When we feel lost or in need of guidance, often, it is the act of Tikun Olam that can help us; simply put, when we help others, we feel better. At times of such silence and isolation, we are looking for answers and help, but when we turn that into an opportunity to support others, our purpose and meaning for moving forward are enhanced. Now more than ever, we must believe and act with care and concern for everyone. When we help our neighbors and raise their hopes, we strengthen our hope. Seeking to give hope to others rewards us with reasons to move forward, which is the point of survival.
“Happiness,” as Leo Rosten wrote, “only comes when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable.” We must remember that our lives are reflected in our dreams, ultimately becoming the foundation of our hope. When you have hope, you are energized to fly on eagle wings, run and not be weary, and walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). Hope makes life worth living. Without hope, life is without air to breathe. Together, let us fly like eagles, fulfilling the destiny we once believed would be ours.
Rabbi Merle E. Singer | Words with Merle 